St. Clair County, Michigan Eviction Risk: Low

St. Clair County scores 2.8/10 (Low) on eviction risk, placing it 12th out of 83 Michigan eviction laws counties -- meaning only 11 counties across the state carry higher risk for landlords. That puts this market squarely in the higher-risk third of Michigan, a fact worth weighing before committing capital here. Across all 13 cities in the county, rental conditions are noticeably tighter than in the bulk of Michigan eviction laws: average rent runs $973 per month, rent burden sits at 32.7% of renter income, and nearly 28.1% of residents rent rather than own.

The county-wide spread runs from a low of 5/10 to a high of 5.8/10, a narrower band than many multi-city counties, but the gap still translates into meaningfully different operating environments depending on where a property sits. Investors comparing St. Clair County against peer markets like Monroe County (5.2.8/10) or Eaton County (5.34/10) will find it notably less landlord-friendly, though it tracks close to Berrien County (5.76/10) and Jackson County (5.77/10) at the riskier end of that peer group.

The cities inside St. Clair County

Port Huron anchors the county's risk profile at 3.5/10. With a population of 28,620, it is by far the largest city in the county and concentrates the heaviest share of rental activity -- which also concentrates exposure for landlords. Algonac and Yale both score 3.2/10, while Richmond comes in at 3.4/10 with a population of 5,855. Capac also registers 3.3/10. These five cities form the upper-risk tier and deserve particularly close underwriting attention.

The lower end of the range tells a different story. Ruby records the county's lowest score at 2.4/10, followed by Marine City and the city of St. Clair at 3/10 each. Marysville, with a population of 9,925, sits at 2.9/10, making it one of the more moderate-risk options for a market of meaningful size. Risk is genuinely hyper-local here: a landlord holding units in Pearl Beach faces conditions that differ from those in Port Huron eviction risk even though both cities sit within the same county boundaries.

State-level laws that apply here

Michigan eviction laws state law governs the eviction framework for every city in St. Clair County. Under MCL 600.5714, nonpayment of rent requires a 7-day notice before a landlord can proceed; a material lease violation or a no-cause month-to-month termination each require a 30-day notice under MCL 554.134; and a serious or repeat health or safety hazard triggers another 7-day notice under MCL 600.5714(c). Understanding the Michigan eviction laws eviction process from notice through judgment is essential because an uncontested case runs 21 to 45 days while a contested case can stretch to 45 to 120 days.

Michigan eviction costs add up quickly: court filing fees run $45 to $150, sheriff lockout fees add another $50 to $150, and attorney fees commonly range from $500 to $2,500. On the regulatory side, Michigan eviction laws does not require just cause to terminate a tenancy, and the state preempts local rent control ordinances statewide, so no city in St. Clair County can impose rent caps independent of state law. For a full breakdown of tenant rights that affect how disputes play out, see Michigan tenant protections and review Michigan security deposit limits before setting lease terms.

With a poverty rate of 16.1% and roughly 28.1% of residents renting, St. Clair County carries underlying economic stress that shapes collection risk across all 13 cities; review the city grid above to identify which specific markets fall above or below the county average.